(CNN) – Sen. Kelly Ayotte, the New Hampshire Republican who's been derided by gun control groups for her "no" vote on expanding background checks last month, is getting some support on the airwaves with a new television spot from the National Rifle Association.

The 30-second ad, airing as part of a $25,000 buy on Manchester-based WMUR, seeks to dispel the notion that Ayotte is opposed to new gun laws.FULL POST

(CNN) - Broadband, smart phones and Facebook are taking center stage Wednesday in a special election next month in Massachusetts to fill the state's open U.S. Senate seat.

Rep. Ed Markey, the Democratic nominee in the race, is out with his first TV commercial of the general election, touting his efforts to pass the 1996 Telecommunications Act that overhauled existing laws and helped encourage innovation.FULL POST

(CNN) - When Chris Christie loses his famous fleece in a new parody video, it takes him on a journey that crosses paths with Alec Baldwin, Jon Bon Jovi, and James Carville–just to name a few–and takes a tongue-in-cheek look at his potential 2016 aspirations.

The outspoken New Jersey governor starred in the seven-minute long video put together for the New Jersey Legislative Correspondents' Dinner Tuesday night.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) – The Obama administration's handling of the aftermath of the Benghazi terror attack has long sparked outrage from Republicans on Capitol Hill and fueled conspiracy theories on talk shows and across the blogosphere.

And those sparks are likely touch off fireworks Wednesday, when three current State Department employees are expected to contradict their leadership in testimony before Republican Rep. Darrell Issa's oversight committee.

(CNN) - First lady Michelle Obama weighed in on Monday's rescue of three women who police say had been held in captivity for years in Ohio, saying their discovery makes her heart "swell up with relief."

Obama also answered questions about New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's move to have weight loss surgery in February, a decision he revealed Tuesday and talked about at great length in a high-profile news conference.FULL POST

Charleston, South Carolina (CNN) – Mark Sanford is heading back to Washington after detours along the Appalachian Trail and Argentina.

The former South Carolina governor finished his second term in office three years ago with his political career dead in the water thanks to a well-publicized extra-marital affair and ethics violations. But he came away Tuesday with a victory over Democratic opponent Elizabeth Colbert Busch in the special election for a vacant House seat in the Palmetto State's 1st Congressional District - the same seat he once held.

(CNN) - If former Rep. Anthony Weiner was hoping to get any insights from congressman-elect Mark Sanford on making a political comeback, it looks like he's out of luck.

Asked during an interview on CNN's "Starting Point" on whether the former Republican governor has any advice for Weiner as he considers making a bid for New York City mayor this year, Sanford said he's not looking to impart any wisdom.FULL POST

The first time most of America heard Amanda Berry's voice was on a frantic 911 call. "I've been kidnapped, and I've been missing for 10 years," the 27-year-old woman said on the call, which was made on Monday. "And I'm here. I'm free now." A day later, Berry could be heard again. This time talking to relatives, she seemed positive, even upbeat - telling her grandmother Fern Gentry in Tennessee that she's "fine" and that the 6-year-old girl also rescued Monday from a Cleveland home is indeed her own.

ALSO SEE:CNN: Timeline: Three Cleveland girls go missing; no word of them for 10 years

WATCH: VIDEO – Kidnapping survivor Jaycee Dugard was honored by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Tuesday night.